Red Bulls drop first leg of conference finals to Columbus Crew, 2-0

It started and ended terribly for the Red Bulls. In between was only slightly better. The Red Bulls were caught off guard Sunday in Columbus and down before they touched the ball, conceding the fastest goal in MLS playoff history (nine seconds) before falling to the Columbus Crew, 2-0.

If they have any hope of advancing to the MLS Cup final for the first time in seven years, they'll now have to do it by spotting the Crew a two-goal handicap. The second leg is Nov. 29 at a sold-out Red Bull Arena. "There's still a lot to play for here," coach Jesse Marsch said. "I'll say that probably five more times. This series isn't over."

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It took them the Red Bulls a year to fight their way back to the conference finals, and then nine seconds to fall behind again. The play developed off a long ball from Columbus' kickoff, followed by a headed deflection by Kei Kamara, a touch in the box from Ethan Finlay and then an easy finish from Justin Meram. "It was embarrassing defending," midfielder Dax McCarty said. "Schoolyard stuff."

The Red Bulls were punched in the mouth and never recovered. By the time Kamara scored the deflating second goal in the 85th minute, the visitors were fortunate to have kept it that close. Kamara's tally was mostly a credit to Columbus sub Cedrick Mabwati, who carved up the Red Bulls' defense in the box before hitting his shot into 'keeper Luis Robles.

Columbus, seeded second, took seven shots on goal while the No. 1 Red Bulls logged only two. "Before the series started I said we were maybe a little bit naive and that was a good thing. It turned out to be a bad thing. We showed our inexperience. We showed our youth," McCarty said. "Very nervy start. Obviously the goal rattled us. You could see that Columbus, it gave them confidence."

Meram nearly scored another in the 44th minute, connecting on a bending shot to the far post that required an outstretched diving stop from Robles, the MLS goalie of the year.

The Red Bulls franchise has never won an MLS title in its 20 years of existence, which also includes its previous incarnation as the Metrostars. Last year they were defeated by the Revolution in this round.

But there are higher hopes for these Red Bulls, even if they lack starpower following the offseason departures of Thierry Henry and Tim Cahill. They accumulated the highest points total in franchise history over the regular season, winning the Supporter's Shield and breezing through rival D.C. United in the conference semifinals.

Columbus needed only nine seconds to wipe away that confidence.

"Pretty incredible that we allow ourselves to dig a hole like that nine seconds into the game," Marsch said "Very disappointing."